Chapter Eleven
Amelie
Sunday rolls around, and I get the dreaded text.
It’s dinner time. Last night was unreal.
Kalen invited me to a party at the lake, but I didn’t go because I was so busy with Order business.
The weather is finally warming up enough that I can remove my fluffy socks, and I have to miss out on the first summer party because I have responsibilities now.
I had a meeting with Monty about the upcoming elections in some weird-ass country I’ve never even heard of. Apparently The Order have a vested interest in the outcome – though I don’t really understand why.
Monty explained that The Order are deeply embroiled in politics, that sometimes they take favours – bribes – to ensure the right person gets elected.
Sometimes they pay others to have their man in the seat of power.
I guess it isn’t so strange to learn that a powerful organisation can pull strings like this, but I’m definitely struggling to understand why they need to.
My understanding is that The Order has more reach, power, wealth and status than could ever be imagined. But what do they do with it? What’s the point? If I have to oversee it all, I want there to be a purpose.
And being forced to spend my Saturday night studying third world politics, is not my idea of a worthwhile mission. Not when said politics seem to be about the bottom line of natural and military resources, rather than charity and doing good.
My bedroom door bangs open and Kalen flops himself down onto my bed dramatically.
“Sis, you missed the best party ever.”
“Not your sister, Kalen,” I say breezily, more from habit than annoyance now.
“Hush, you love it.”
“So this party…was it better than our party at the lake?” I tease.
“Okay…one, nothing is better than that. And two, it’s not a party if there’s only two people.”
“So invite your brothers next time and we’ll make it a real party.” I shrug.
“Ouch, you wound me. Actually, I’ve changed my mind. I’m more than enough. I’m a one man party. I’m the damn party. Where’s the party at? Wherever I am! I should hire myself out for events. I’ll need a name though, something catchy…boo. I’m too hungover to think of something awesome.”
“Kalen!”
“Huh? What?”
“Is there a point to this tirade? Why are you here?”
“Oh! I have a new car. So I’m taking you to the pool party.”
“What? What pool party? Laura just messaged that we’re all expected for dinner today.”
“Yeah. It’s a barbeque. And a pool party.”
“You guys don’t have a pool.”
Kalen looks at me like I’m insane.
“We have a pool. Have you never been on the back patio?”
“Yes. I’ve seen it quite a bit actually. Never stumbled into an ice cold pool by mistake though.”
“Enough about the pool! Did you not hear that I have a new car?”
I shake my head at his dramatics. “Let’s go see this new car then.”
Kalen’s entire face lights up like all his Christmases came at once.
I grab a bag and then open my drawers, hunting for the bikini that Elsie insisted I buy even after many protests from me that it’s too cold here for me to swim.
Where I come from it’s humid almost all year round, maybe except for a month or two in winter, and even then there are nice enough days that you can still wear shorts and a shirt.
So far since being here, I’ve had to wear multiple layers just to keep the chill from my bones – though I must admit that the last few days I haven't had to wear as many layers.
Today feels unusually warm…well warm enough that I didn't have to sleep in three layers and have multiple blankets on.
Kalen watches as I get dressed. I pull on my black bikini, noticing how his gaze heats, then I throw on a light summer dress over the top and pair it with my boots and leather jacket.
“What?” I ask Kalen when he stares at me.
“That is not a summer outfit.”
“I’m still not convinced that it is warm enough for a BBQ. You know how warm it was over Easter break. And that isn’t even what we would class as BBQ weather.”
“Come on then, let’s go and enjoy the sun and some time by the pool before Laura shows up. Dad said she’s out getting her hair and shit done before tonight so we have a few hours without her.”
I’m sold, we head down to student parking and Kalen runs towards a red Tesla.
“Isn’t she pretty?”
“She sure is,” I say. I must admit it is a really nice car, for an electric. I still prefer Sawyer’s beat up classic though. And it is a really nice day. I slip my jacket off and the sun warms my skin. The sun and heat is one of the things I miss about Australia the most.
Kalen holds my door open, and I slide into the passenger seat and he closes the door and runs around to the driver's side like an excitable little kid.
“The others are meeting us there. Sawyer had to run an errand for Dad, and the twins are already there.”
“Hey!” I hear from outside the car.
I look out of my window to see Elsie running down the stairs in a red bikini and a sarong wrapped around her waist. A big floppy hat covers her long blonde hair.
She gets to the car and opens the back door, throwing her oversized bag into the back seat with a huff.
“Kalen Knox you’re so not funny.”
“My message said to be down here in ten minutes if you wanted to come. It’s been twelve.”
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I decided to invite a couple of friends today. Dad assured me that he would keep Laura busy. I think he misses us coming around as much as we used to, now that we hide out at Sawyer’s.”
“He should have thought about that before marrying that horrid woman.”
“Can we keep the mood upbeat?” Elsie demands, rubbing coconut oil into her pasty white skin. “We finally have a chance to get a tan.”
I lean back and hold my arm out to her and laugh. My Italian heritage helps with a natural tan all year round, no matter where I live. Though since being here it isn’t as dark as it would usually be.
Kalen turns on the radio and takes off, clearly done with our conversation about tans.
“I love this song!” Elsie screams as Taylor Swift’s ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ comes on the radio.
She sings at the top of her lungs, and I join her.
It feels so nice to have my own friends, not ones associated with my brother or Smalls.
I hadn’t realised how much they protected me from the outside world after what happened to me, but actually, I know that Elsie has my back just as fiercely as my family do.
When we get to Monty’s, Kalen wows me. There is a pool on the back patio area; one of those fancy pools that’s hidden underground, where you have to push a button so that the floor lowers.
Then bam, instant pool. Of course the flashy fucker couldn’t just have a normal pool set in the ground like regular people.
Kalen also failed to mention that not only did he invite Elsie, but Adrianne too.
She’s here with her brother, and they seem to be having a good time, even though she’s avoiding Kalen.
Onyx and Slate have apparently been teaching Falon how to do dive bombs to make a huge splash, and when he hears this, Kalen takes it upon himself to join in.
Elsie, Adrianne and I laze around on the sun chairs working on our tans.
Jasper and Frost are both on duty today because Sawyer insists on me being safe and doesn’t trust anyone.
They are allowed to join in on the fun though, which Jasper has, wearing board shorts and no shirt.
The guy is ripped, and I catch Elsie checking him out from the safety of her sunglasses quite a few times.
For me, the day would be perfect if Baxter could be here too, but while my boyfriends are slowly starting to tolerate my friendship with him, I think expecting them all to socialise together is a bit too much to ask. For now.
I’m a bit pissed that Baxter hasn’t been around much in general lately, but ever since he met that Raven girl he’s been super evasive and MIA. Who would have thought Baxter having a crush would turn him into a stalker…on second thoughts, I probably should have seen it coming.
If she turns up missing or dead on the news I wouldn’t be surprised.
I really hope not though because I don’t know how to make that disappear.
I decide to send him a selfie. It has been our latest thing but he’s not very good at it.
He keeps sending pictures of himself with bloody hands and knives, and I’m never quite sure how to respond to them.
Especially if I messaged him first with something like ‘feeling cute’.
His latest caption was ‘me too’ and it took me nearly an hour to figure out what the mutilated body parts in the picture were.
I send him a picture of myself and the girls.
Amelie
Lazing in the sun, you should have joined.
Baxter
Fat chance, I’m allergic to the sun. I start to sparkle and shit.
Amelie
You’re not a vampire, nice try.
Baxter
I could be and you would never know.
Amelie
Bullshit. You would have eaten me by now. I’m a snack.
Baxter
Is there something you wanted?
Amelie
Besides you here to rub cream into my back? Yes. To tell you not to kill the girl, I don’t know how to make that disappear.
Baxter
Ye of little faith, I’m not killing the girl but if I did, I have a cleanup crew. And I happen to like being alive so I won’t be rubbing anything of yours anytime soon.
Amelie
Cleanup what? We need to talk about this.
Also this week I need that list of girls. So get your ass back here ASAP.
Baxter
Is that an order?
Amelie
Sure is.
Baxter
Fine, see you next week.
“Who has you all entranced in your phone?” Sawyer asks. I jump so high I almost throw my phone over the side of the chair.
“You scared the crap out of me,” I reply with a laugh. “Just Baxter. I’ve had to summon the demon’s presence because I need his help. Don’t tell the others or it’ll hurt their damn feelings.”